Mears takes Indy Pole

Mears, in his second year with Chip Ganassi, has migrated from roadsters to stock cars. His father, Roger Mears, and his uncle, Rick Mears, made their marks in IndyCars, specifically at the Indianapolis 500, which Rick Mears won four times.

Mears ran his better of two laps in 48.311sec (186.293mph), easily burying Kevin Harvick's year-old track standard (48.222, 184.343). That bumped Ward Burton (48.546) from the top spot. Elliott Sadler, Joe Nemechek and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top five.

There had been much talk that the odd time of day for the qualifying session (10:10 a.m. EST) would favour those who drew early runs. Earnhardt seemed to confirm that when, as first driver on the clock, he broke the track record. Mears, however, went out 25th.

"We actually had about the same temperature we practised in yesterday," he said. "Historically, if you go out first here, it's best to go out. The later you go, the worse it gets. If you put that in your mind, you're giving yourself an excuse right off the bat. So I just went out there and said the track's going to have the best grip in the world, it's going to be the best track out there. If you do that, usually you can pull something out."

Burton, in second, was seventh to qualify, with Sadler 14th, and Nemechek eighth. All three Ganassi cars were fast Friday, and all qualified top-10 Saturday, regardless of their place in line. Sterling Marlin, who qualified 10th, was fifth from the last to try.

Points leader Jimmie Johnson qualified ninth, and second-place Jeff Gordon will start 11th. Bill Elliott, making just his fourth start of the season, put the No. 91 Evernham car in the field at 18th.

Seven of the 50 starters failed to make criteria. Out of the running were Kevin Lepage, Hermie Sadler, Morgan Shepherd, Greg Sacks, Andy Hillenburg, Geoff Bodine and Kirk Shelmerdine.

Bobby Labonte's engine broke on his warm-up lap and he did not get a time. Labonte received first provisional and will start at the rear due to the engine change.